BED CLOVER 381 



448. Composition at different stages. Several inves- 

 tigators have studied the composition of clover at dif- 

 ferent stages of its development. The total dry matter 

 and the ash increase until maturity, though in some 

 cases there is a slight decline after flowering, due to leach- 

 ing. The highest percentage of protein is contained before 

 blossoming, but the greatest total amount when the plants 

 are in full bloom. The fatty substances show but little 

 change in their relative amounts. The percentage of 

 fiber increases quite rapidly after blooming. The per- 

 centage of carbohydrates shows little change, but is 

 greatest during blooming. 



The greatest total amount of digestible substance is 

 about the time of full bloom. The highest percentage of 

 nutritive substance is before bloom, and also the highest 

 percentage of digestibility. 



449. Number of cuttings. Mammoth clover yields 

 but a single cutting of mature hay, the second growth 

 never becoming large enough to justify mowing. Orel 

 red clover behaves in the same way. 



Medium red clover, over much of the area best adapted 

 to it, yields a heavy crop of hay at the first cutting, and 

 later a second smaller cutting. Usually the second cut- 

 ting is allowed to mature for seed. 



Near the northern limit of clover culture but one crop 

 of either hay or seed can be obtained. 



In Louisiana, near the southern extreme of its success- 

 ful culture, red clover is best sown in October, when two 

 cuttings of hay, one in May and one in July, are usually 

 secured. 



European experiments have consistently shown a greater 

 total yield of hay from two cuttings than .from a greater 

 number. Voelcker in Germany secured a less yield from 



